Find / Replace swap in 8.2.1

Alan Kilborn · Jan 19, 2022, 7:33 PM

So Notepad++ 8.2.1 introduces a new “swap” button in the Replace window, for swapping the data in the Find what and Replace with boxes:

Cool enough.

But what’s also cool about it, is it can be used for a multi-line search and replace, something N++ hasn’t been able to do before now.

Here’s how:

Select the multiline text you want to use as the replacement text. If you don’t have that text in your document (common), compose it there temporarily.
Press Ctrl+f. This will get your replacement text into the Find what box.
Press … the new swap button. This will get your replacement text into the Replace with box.
Select the multiline text you want to search for, and thus replace in the end. Press Ctrl+f.
Use the Replace or Replace All buttons to do the replacement(s).

Note that although your multiline text appears like it is one line in the boxes, it is actually multiline.